St. Vincent de Paul of Baltimore’s Post

When the lunch bell rings, it's more than just a break for some kids, it's a chance for a nutritious meal they might not get at home No Kid Hungry works to ensure all kids get three meals a day, every day, no matter where they live. With the help of Albertsons Companies #NourishingNeighbors community and #OOrganics, we are celebrating the incredible progress that has been made toward getting nutritious meals to kids before and after the bell. Just last year alone, No Kid Hungry’s local partners helped serve more than 504 million healthy meals to kids and families. Since March 2020, No Kid Hungry grantees have reported serving more than 3 million meals. This is possible due to the incredible support of partners like Albertsons, Safeway, ACME, and Shaw’s. It takes more than food to end hunger. That’s why we are proud to be a Nourishing Neighbor and have partners like O Organics and Albertsons Companies who know the importance of raising awareness for childhood hunger and championing this important work together.

We've seen this story before and we're ready for it. As we continue to build the food system that serves our communities, we brace ourselves for the push back that comes with any semblance of progress for Black communities. Our latest #BlogPost walks through the lessons we have learned from those who came before us and how these lessons apply to the reality we live in now. Click the link in our bio and read all about it! #blackhistory365 #blackfarmers #blackfarmlandownersmatter #blackfarmer #blackownedfarm #blackownedbusiness #blackowned #blackbusiness #dcbusiness #farmersmarket #blackhistory #weareblackhistory #amplifymelanatedvoices

Did you know that one in five children in the U.S. experience food insecurity? For kids that rely on free or reduced-priced meals at school, summer can mean a lack of access to nutritious food. That’s why we’ve joined Albertsons Companies Foundation’s first-of-its-kind coalition of foodbanks, school districts, community organizations, and other partners across the country to help tackle hunger. Check if your household qualifies for $120 for groceries per eligible child through USDA’s new, permanent Summer EBT program at SummerEBT.org

Rising and Shining: Demystifying the Art of Baking Bread Kora is thrilled to highlight the inspiring journey of Kitty Tait who has turned her passion for baking into a mission to share the joy and simplicity of making bread with the world. Featured in Positive News, Kitty’s story is one of transformation, resilience, and community impact. 🌱 The Journey: Kitty Tait, along with her father Alex, started the Orange Bakery in Watlington, Oxfordshire. Baking helped Kitty overcome a period of severe depression, giving her a sense of purpose and joy. What began as a therapeutic hobby quickly evolved into a successful business, capturing the hearts of many through their delicious creations and engaging social media presence. 🍞 Breaducating Britain: Through her project, Breaducating Britain, Kitty aims to demystify the process of baking bread, making it accessible to everyone. The initiative has distributed around 40,000 free bread kits to schools, prisons, food hubs, and individuals, promoting the mental and physical health benefits of baking. 🌍 Community Impact: The Orange Bakery’s success has not only been a personal triumph for Kitty but also a beacon of hope and empowerment for the community. The bakery has become a hub for learning and sharing, fostering a sense of connection and well-being. Learn more about Kitty Tait’s mission to bring the art of bread-making to everyone: https://lnkd.in/e_Rr4YUg #Inspiration #MentalHealth #Community #Baking #Sustainability #KoraForSDGs #PositiveChange

Did you know that one in five children in the U.S. experience food insecurity? For kids that rely on free or reduced-priced meals at school, summer can mean a lack of access to nutritious food. That’s why we’ve joined Albertsons Companies Foundation’s first-of-its-kind coalition of food banks/food pantries, school districts, community organizations, and other partners across the country to help tackle hunger. Check if your household qualifies for $120 for groceries per eligible child through USDA’s new, permanent Summer EBT program at SummerEBT.org

Volunteering is defined as doing something for free. Most people think about volunteering as having to take time away from their day and spending it someplace such as helping the homeless, building a house for disabled vets, working at a local animal shelter. But did you realize that you can volunteer lots of ways? I volunteer for a non-profit company called Herdin Cats. This company helps reduce the local stray feline population by Trapping, Neuter, and Return (TNR). They start by trapping the cats, and taking them to a local vet clinic, where they receive a full check up, then a spay or neuter. Then Herdin Cats cares for the cats for the next few weeks while they recover from their surgery. Once the cats are strong enough they are returned to where they were trapped. This doesn't remove the cats from locations, but it does help prevent them from breeding and keeping the population under control. Herdin Cats on average TNRs 35 cats a month and the average cost of the each vet visit per cat is $100. They rely on donations to be able to meet these costs. While they will accept any donations that is offered, food, blankets, cages, your time to transport the animals. what they are desperately in need of is monetary donations. That is why this weeks volunteer moment for me is for me to ask you to spend $15 on a dozen Krispy Kream donuts. By utilizing the link below, you will buy a dozen glazed donuts from Krispy Kream, where 50% of the cost will be donated to Herdin Cats. you get a dozen donuts, and give a non profit a small donation. I am not asking you to buy 5 dozen, just one. One dozen will help chip away at the cost of each vet visit. I believe in the work that Herdin Cats is doing for the local community, that's is why I volunteer for them and support them in their mission.

🌟 Let's Shine a Light on Corporate Kindness 🌟 I had the privilege of witnessing something truly heartwarming yesterday. During my trip to Edmonton this week, I stopped by the Brewery District Shoppers Drug Mart. While waiting in line, I saw two homeless men approach another cashier. Unsure of what would happen next, I watched as the cashier greeted them with genuine smiles, offering each of them bottles of water and asking if they'd like "their snacks." To my surprise, she had a basket full of goodies tucked away under her till, a practice initiated by their manager to support those in need in the downtown core. As I left the store, I saw the men unpacking their "snack bags" with gratitude, which included a bagel and a bottle of Boost. Later that evening, I visited Cobbs Bakery for a fresh loaf of bread but arrived just after closing time. However, I witnessed something equally inspiring – the staff loading unsold baked goods into a van. When I inquired, they explained that they donate all unsold products to local food insecurity organizations every single night. In a world often filled with negative news, it's essential to highlight acts of kindness. If you've witnessed or experienced similar instances of corporate caring, I encourage you to share them below and tag the unsung heroes making a positive impact in our communities and beyond. Let's spread the positivity together! 🌍💙 #KindnessMatters #CorporateKindness #SpreadKindness #ActsOfKindness #CommunityImpact #PayItForward #PositivityInAction #MakingADifference #GoodDeeds #PositiveImpact #SocialGood #BeTheChange #KindnessInspires #GivingBack #HelpingHands

Despite the current backlash against anything “DEI’, organizations and initiatives committed to Food Justice understand that not much can move forward if you aren’t centering equity, inclusion, and diversity. While it’s important to increase representation of Black, brown, and Indigenous people of color, we still don’t see the size diversity that reflects our community demographics. For example, higher-weight people make up nearly 50% of communities of color, but when I look around, I am often the only or one of the only large-bodied people in food justice spaces. Those who garner the most visibility in the Food Justice movement, regardless of race or ethnicity, are overwhelmingly thin-bodied or straight-sized*.  Want to learn about the historical and systemic context that shapes the current landscape? And how is this connected to historical anti-Black racism? Registration is now open for the Live Webinar on April 16th at 3:30 PM ET “Weight Inclusive Food Justice: What the Movement is Missing, How it Holds People of the Global Majority Back, and How to Do Better” You can register at https://lnkd.in/e7GgeQ6A Can't attend? Please share with those who might be interested. Thank you so much! *Straight-sized refers to the clothing sizes most commonly found in brick-and-mortar stores. For women, this would be sizes 0-14 or 16.

Happy Friday! Today we're sharing another community ownership example that is transforming food access and possibly more in Detroit: A spring article in the Detroit Metro Times by journalist Steve Neavling covered a story about a new Black-owned and operated grocery store, the Detroit People’s Food Co-Op, spearheaded by the Detroit Black Community Food Sovereignty Network. The store features fruit and vegetables from four Black-owned farms, and many of the products are made by local food entrepreneurs in Michigan. But - while access to healthy, local food for BIPOC residents and reliable distributors for local Black farmers is a game changer for a city where nearly 70% of its residents are considered food insecure, this co-op's 2,740+ members are empowered to vote in board elections, share future profits, and be elected to committees with larger goals like fighting for affordable housing or disability rights. This is why community ownership matters. ➡ Read the full article to learn more: https://lnkd.in/etQcE9xb

We are so excited to share that UP Holland is building a food pantry! Ms. Rosario, our Coordinator of Family and Community at UP Holland, spearheaded this initiative in partnership with Stop & Shop, and advocates tirelessly for resources that support our students and families 🥕 Despite being one of Boston's biggest neighborhoods, Dorchester is also one of Boston's most food insecure neighborhoods with fewer grocery stores per capita than any other Boston neighborhood. This has historically been caused by redlining, segregation and other practices rooted in systemic racism and anti-Blackness. What does equity mean at UP? It means diligently increasing access to resources and disrupting the inequities that our school communities experience. Median income in Dorchester - $47,200 Median income in the Seaport (just 20 min away) - $167,000 📈 #thisisup #foodinsecurity #foodapartheid #equitableaccess #communityfirst